Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-23
HARD / EXPERIENCE.

| HARD + AfERlENCE.
An American Citizen Ar
rested in Russia.
| A HOLIDAY TRIP INTERRUPTED
-
Visiting the Salt Mines-A Pole
Who Persisted in Occupying the
Same Railway Compartment.
Mr.. Edwin Young, of the Delaware
and Hudson Railroad Company, in
this city, while a student in Europe
had such an experience as is not like
ly to ia | to the lot of many Albanians
and one that he would not care to re.
peat. A Journal reporter found him
in his cosy office the other evening
and in the course of the conversation
asked him to tell something about it
"Well," said he taken all in all il
was an exciting adventure-for us. II
happened in the Winter of 1S79-S0
when l was student at Berlin. ]
was at the time very intimate with
VIM. f. Upson, of Ohio, son of a
Judge OF the Supreme Court. He was
a student and of jolly and ven.
turesome disposition. l had known
him about six months. The holidays
were coming ON, and to prevent time
from hanging too heavily upon our
hands, we decided to make a trip
through Russia, and visit the wonder
full salt mines throughout Polish Rus
sia, after spending fortnight or so in
the vicinity of St. Petersburg. The
mines we more particularly desired to
explore were those situated near Vie
liezka, about three or four miles from
the celebrated mines of Cracow. The
illumination of these mines with ctl-
ored fire forms one of the greatest
spectacles the eye may ever
behold. You will remember that at
that time the Government of Russia
was on a very insecure foundation.
Several desperate attempts had been
made by the Nihilists to overthrow the
Royal Government, and the life OF the
Gar was threatened on every side.
Only few weeks before an attempt
was made to assassinate him by blow
ing up his train, and the utmost pre-
cautions were taken for the protection
of the royal family.
"Many innocent people had been
executed upon the simple suspicion OF
being Nihilists. Natives and foreign
ers alike were often arrested as Mill
lists or spies, and hurried off to banish-
ment in Siberia, without even being
allowed to telegraph to friends. We
knew before we started that We were
about to undertake a hazardous jour
ney, but in order to make things as
safe as possible, and to facilitate travel,
the Hon. Andrew ID. White, at that
time United States Minister 10 Berlin
made us special messengers to the
court OF Russia, and gave us creden-
| tials to that effect. Armed with these
| formidable papers we felt compara-
lively safe. 1t was in the dead of win
ter. The cold blasts which came
bowling over the immense wilderness
in the northwest were all the warning
that we needed to prepare for our
Journey. | hired two heavy, fur
lined overcoats and caps for prote..-
ton from the biting air, which has
been known to freeze a well-protected
man to death in travelling distance
of less than twenty miles by sledge.
We decided to 90 direct to st. Peters
burg, thence to Moscow, Warsaw and
Wieliezka. In our journey to the
Royal City we saw immense skating
rinks, magnificent ice-palaces, and
tobogg gaming chutes that would make
Ridgefield grow green with envy.
After journey OF two days and nights
from st. Petersburg We found our
selves in Warsaw. Our first plans
were to stay there over night, but
upon learning that Cracow was only a
nights journey further on, we resolved
to go to that city In travelling to the
salt mines we passed from Russian
Poland to German Poland, and as
this section of the country was much
travelled over, spies and government
| detectives were numerous.
"We had not been long in Warsaw
when q little dark-eyed Polish Jew,
who had been eying US for some time,
accosted me in German,' saying he
would like to show my friend and
myself der stadt,' but we declined
his services. While in cafe Upson
and L thoughtlessly discussed the
question of republican form OF Gov
ernment in Russia. The little Pole
was close at hand and was listening
intently. Such topic at that time
was decidedly dangerous one to dis
cuss. as we soon found. We left the
cafe. went to our hotel, paid our bill
and entered an omnibus to go to the
station. OF course we thought
then we should be rid
of that disagreeable little Pole,
and we were congratulating ourselves
on having seen the last OF him, when
there was rattle, a shake, a bang.
and before we could fairly comprehend
what had happened, there sat thai
representative of Poland on the sea-
opposite us, smiling complacently a
himself, no doubt highly pleased t.
think that he had not allowed us tt
escape. This would never do. wa'
getting vexed and disgusted at the fel
lows actions. and resolved to be rid o
him. The station was soon reached
and we boarded the train with th'
Pole at our heels. The guard, at ou
request, ushered us into a second-clas
coupe, ere after eapla,Hing @ pnmtirn 20 a,nnn mni,
and giving him an extrava
CANT tip, we felt secure from
intrusion. The train had just started
when in popped that confounded Pole
with the same disgusting grin on bi
repugnant countenance. Der Her
mass mach CracorU heute abend gehen,
| h1. doc